Buddy Rogers

Los Angeles Times

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, April 22, 1999

1999-04-22 04:00:00 PDT Los Angeles -- Buddy Rogers, silent screen matinee idol and bandleader who spent half his life tending the lady and legend known as America's Sweetheart and the world's first real movie star, Mary Pickford, died yesterday at the age of 94.

Mr. Rogers died peacefully at his home in Rancho Mirage, said his godson, Keith Lawrence.

An accomplished actor in his own right, Mr. Rogers had been known for decades as Pickford's devoted consort and then widower who could always be counted on for kind and witty words at gatherings celebrating the history of the silent era. Pickford, 11 years Mr. Rogers' senior, died in 1979, ending their 42-year marriage.

Mr. Rogers carried on their philanthropy and fund-raising work for the Motion Picture and Television Fund, which Pickford co-founded. He earned the special Oscar known as the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1985 for his efforts to aid industry colleagues.

Charles "Buddy" Rogers was born in Olathe, Kan., the son of a weekly newspaper publisher who became a judge. He attended the University of Kansas, planning to be a band leader. The busy musician also played trumpet, trombone, drums, piano, accordion and all the reed instruments in campus dance bands.

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Although Mr. Rogers had no early interest in acting, his father persuaded him to enter a contest by Paramount Pictures seeking 10 young men and 10 young women to train as actors. Mr. Rogers reluctantly mailed a few pictures to please his father, and a three-member crew showed up in Lawrence, Kan., to give the student a test.

After bit parts in "So's Your Old Man" with W.C. Fields and "Fascinating Youth" both shot in New York, Mr. Rogers was cast in "Beau Geste," the romantic adventure of the French Foreign Legion. But by the time he reached Los Angeles he had been uncast -- then was promptly cast and uncast in "Old Ironsides."

He was the star of the 1927 air epic "Wings," which was the first film to win an Academy Award for best picture. Among Mr. Rogers' other films were "Varsity," "River of Romance," "Paramount on Parade," "The Road to Reno," "Old Man Rhythm," "Sing for Your Supper," and in 1957 "The Parson and the Outlaw."

Mr. Rogers also realized his long- desired career as a bandleader, once earning a dinner invitation in Chicago from Al Capone.